Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas ‘works too hard’ to feel pressure of Game 7

Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics play the Wizards in Game 7 on Monday night. (Brad Mills/USA Today Sports)

WALTHAM — It’s win or go home for the Celtics tomorrow night.

Back in Boston for the the conclusion of a second-round war with the Wizards with Monday’s Game 7 at TD Garden, there’s undeniable pressure on the top-seeded Celtics to take that next step in their slow build return to contention and punch their tickets to an Eastern Conference Finals meeting with the Cavaliers.

But don’t try to tell that to Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas.

“I don’t believe in pressure,” Thomas, who scored 27 points in over 38 minutes in Friday’s 92-91 loss in Washington, said following Sunday’s practice. “I work too hard to be scared of any type of pressure. I’m treating it just like it would be Game 1.”

Still, there’s a definite buzz that comes with a Game 7, and one that Thomas has envisioned himself in long before Game 6 went final.

“The best players play at their best in those type of situations,” Thomas said of the club’s opportunity in this game. “You always think of Game 7s. Those are exciting times. I definitely, as a little boy, dreamed of being in a Game 7 and winning a Game 7. And hopefully we can do that. It would be so good for this city and so good for this team to win tomorrow night.”

In a postseason run that’s come with Thomas receiving advice from a significant lot of NBA legends — Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett just to name a few — Thomas recalled a few Game 7 performances that have stuck out to him.

“Paul Pierce vs. LeBron. That was a good one,” Thomas said of memorable Game 7 games that he’s watched. “Kobe’s had a few really good Game 7s. The last one I’ve seen, that I watched the other day, was [Allen] Iverson vs. Vince Carter.

“I think everybody’s excited. I think everybody’s ready. We know the Garden is probably gonna be the best we’ve ever seen.”

The Celtics have won an NBA-most 21 Game 7 contests in their franchise history, and are 18-4 at home in such situations.

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